Season for Caring less than $30,000 away from raising $1 million for local families

Statesman Season for Caring is getting so close to raising $1 million for local nonprofit agencies. Since launching Thanksgiving weekend, it has raised $734,283 in monetary donations and another $236,866 in in-kind donations of goods and services. With $971,149 the 2017 Season for Caring is the best year in the program’s history.

Since 1999, Season for Caring has given almost 11.5 million to the local community. Donations help the 12 featured families first and then help the local nonprofit organizations that nominated them help hundreds of other families throughout the year with basic needs such as rent, groceries, clothing, medical needs and an education.

You still have time to give. Season for Caring donations will be accepted through Jan. 31 (that’s Wednesday) for the 2017 giving season.

Help Season for Caring get to $1 million.

Margarita and Jesse Matias have a nonfunctional kitchen. All the appliances are broken. Margarita Matias is currently going through treatment for stage 4 ovarian cancer. Jesse Matias, who previously had kidney cancer, has been cancer free since 2011 and Margarita and Jesse’s son Ricky Felix Perez has intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and testicular cancer. Erika Rich/For American-Statesman

You can make your donation online at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. Click the Donate to Season for Caring tab. Or you can find a coupon in the paper each day to mail in your donation or mail it to Austin Community Foundation c/o Statesman Season for Caring, 4315 Guadalupe St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78751.

You also can give a item on a family’s wish list. Check this list and see if there is something on it that you can give:

The Negron family,who lost their father to a car accident last December, need help with tuition assistance, a used car and car repairs to their existing car, living room furniture and a math tutor for Luis. Foundation Communities, 512-610-7391, foundcom.org.

Jazmyne Johnson, 24, needs a car to transport her children to and from their HeadStart program, an apartment near Hutto and tuition assistance for her to go to college to pursue a career in biotechnology. Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties, 512-763-1400, opportunitiesforwbc.org

Joyce and Kenneth Marvel,who both have intellectual disabilities and are 74 and 65, need more in-home care for Joyce, who uses a walker, a medical alert system and new all furniture. Family Eldercare, 512-450-0844, familyeldercare.org.

The Sherwood family — Mom Trisha, 40, who has multiple sclerosis; son Alden, 16, who is in a wheelchair after brain cancer; and son Jacob, 13, who is on the autism spectrum — needs an accessible apartment, an assistance dog, help with rent and utilities, grocery store gift cards, art therapy and equine therapy, clothing, and gift cards to the movies or Game Stop. Any Baby Can, 512-454-3743, anybabycan.org.

Bertha Foster, 43, who is paralyzed from a series of strokes, needs assistance getting a large apartment so she can be moved out of bed more easily as well as a car for Donovan and driver’s education, and a cellphone for him and service. Meals on Wheels Central Texas at 512-476-6325, Ext. 159 or at www.mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org.

Hawa Hassan, 30, who grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya, needs pots and pans and kitchen utensils, bedding, dressers, after-school tutoring for all the kids, everything for a new baby. A donor is working with Nyle Maxwell to buy a van for the family, but she will need driver’s education and insurance. Caritas of Austin, 512-646-1277,caritasofaustin.org.

Nikki Jones, 35, who hascommon variable immune deficiency, still has many things on her list including a playhouse or swingset for Adeline, a backyard awning, foundation repair, a dish washer, toothbrushes, colorful adhesive bandages, help with medical bills, a small pet for Adeline, food delivery service, gym membership, and gift cards. Wonders & Worries, 512-329-5757, wondersandworries.org.​

Matias family— Margarita, 72, who has ovarian cancer, Jessie, 60, who had kidney cancer, and son Ricky, 46, who has cerebral palsy and testicular cancer — need a wheelchair lift for their truck, ceiling fans, microwave, smartphones, Tejano music CDs, an electrical wiring upgrade, a kitchen remodel and new appliances and a new window. CareBox Program, 512-296-2180, careboxprogram.org.

Ashour family has had many of their needs taken care of. They do need driver’s education for wife Ahlam Al Battal. Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, Ext. 7, interfaithtexas.org.

Rogaciano Ríos Marcial, 46, who lost his wife in May and is raising his four children alone, needs a TV stand, kids books and bookshelves, clothes for 10-year-old Alma, new shoes for all the children, a computer and Internet. Boys & Girls Club of the Austin area at 512-444-7199 or visit bgcaustin.org.

Marcelo Gracia, 45, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease, needs help with living expenses, more care expenses, a tablet and wireless printer for his son, Gael, who is his main caregiver. Hospice Austin, 512-342-4726, hospiceaustin.org.

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